A judge has rejected R. Kelly’s urgent request to be released from prison to home confinement following allegations that prison officials solicited another inmate to kill him.
Robert Kelly, serving a 30-year sentence for child sexual exploitation charges, filed the emergency motion last week. He claimed government misconduct and attempts on his life by prison staff.
U.S. District Judge Martha Pacold denied the motion Tuesday, stating the court “lacks jurisdiction over this matter” because Kelly is imprisoned outside the court’s judicial district. She canceled a hearing that was set for Friday.
In response, Kelly’s lawyer Beau Brindley told Variety they plan to file a motion to vacate Kelly’s convictions in Chicago based on newly uncovered evidence. Brindley said, “We are not surprised by this ruling as we knew jurisdiction would be a challenge. But we had no choice but to act quickly given the clear threat to Robert Kelly’s life.”
Kelly’s emergency motion alleged that officials at a federal prison in North Carolina recruited a terminally ill inmate with a sworn statement. The inmate claimed officials promised him freedom in exchange for killing Kelly. The motion also accused prison officials of retaliation after Kelly tried to expose that they had violated attorney-client privilege by intercepting his correspondence.
Brindley added that Kelly was punished for filing the motion. He was placed in solitary confinement and given a dangerous amount of medication, leading to an overdose and hospitalization. Doctors found blood clots in Kelly’s legs and lungs. Despite scheduled surgery, prison officials reportedly removed Kelly from the hospital against medical advice.
Brindley warned, “This threat is ongoing and more serious than ever. Kelly remains in prison with life-threatening blood clots and is being denied necessary surgery. The danger could not be more imminent.”
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